Best Strategy for preventing drug abuse is parental involvement

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. (Benjamin Franklin)

Addressing media personnel a few months ago, Secretary General of the Colombo Plan, Ms Dato Patricia Yoon-Moi Chia said that, according to information, there are some 300,000 youths in Sri Lanka addicted to drugs and the numbers are ever increasing. Out of this figure, over 45,000 are heroin users, of which most are injecting drug users who are vulnerable to be infected with HIV/AIDs and other blood borne diseases. And, according to the Handbook of Drug Abuse Information -2011 released by the National Dangerous Drug Control Board recently the incidence of young people falling victim to drug use is on the rise. According to the report the total number of drug related arrests was 29,796 in 2010. 39% of these arrestees were in their twenties. The two main drugs used in Sri Lanka are cannabis and heroin. Heroin: Based on the heroin seizures between 2006 and 2010, the estimated street level supply of heroin in Sri Lanka was 763 kg per annum or nearly 2 kilograms per day. This quantity was sufficient for a days supply of 45,000 heroin dependents. Cannabis: The present trends indicate that over last few decades the incidence of abuse of cannabis has come to constitute substantial problem in Sri Lankan society. The trend reflected a significant increase of cannabis users in the country. The cannabis related arrests were rapidly increased during the period of year 2006 to 2007. It was 34,728 in year 2006, 33,848 for year 2007. But cannabis related arrests had decreased from year 2008 to 2009 and increased again in 2010. Why Drug use in the adult population is damaging enough; but when the youths take drugs they may irreversibly harm their mental or physical growth and we must therefore take all appropriate measures to protect our children from their use. In addition to cannabis and heroin, amphetamine-type stimulants such as ecstasy and methamphetamines are popular with young people (specially within children of elite families). These drugs are not associated with social exclusion or addiction, but rather with the party and dancing scene. There are clearly many reasons why young people abuse drugs. Curiosity and the desire to fit into a social group are common ones. Some have a network of friends who use drugs and urge them to do the same (peer pressure). Those who have already begun to smoke cigarettes and/or use alcohol are at heightened risk for marijuana use as well. And children and teens who have

untreated mental disorders (e.g., ADHD, conduct disorder, anxiety) or who were physically or sexually abused are at heightened risk of using marijuana and other drugs at an early age. For some, drug use begins as a means of copingto deal with anxiety, anger, depression, boredom, and so forth. But in fact, being high can be a way of simply avoiding the problems and challenges of growing up. Research also suggests that family members' use of alcohol and drugs plays a strong role in whether children/teens start using drugsmaking parents, grandparents, and older brothers and sisters models for children to follow. I believe that the contemporary expansion of drug use is a warning signal of weaknesses and faults in our society, besides despair or kicks: why otherwise should a significant number of talented and privileged young people prefer drugs to the reality of the present day? This is a good question, which makes us realize that our modern materialistic and achievementobsessed society often fails to meet our emotional and spiritual needs. Even our religions have not been able to fill those needs because they have overlooked the root cause of our current problems. Parental role If you are a parent and want to know how you can prevent your child from using drugs, the only answer is that there is no magic bullet for preventing teen drug use. But research indicates that parents have a big influence on their teens, even when it doesn't show! A young friend of mine, school teacher, expressed concern over the alarming increase in drug abuse among youth in our country and commented: "That our children taking drugs is often a painful indictment of us as parents and of society in general. Week in and week out we grub for money, worshipping at the temple of material success. Our kids tax our minds, our strength. It's easy to throw money at them to get them out of our hair. Easier than listening to them - to their fears, their hopes, their hassles! Tonight, as we relax in front of the TV, will we even know what they're doing?" Or, I might add, even thinking? Yes, she was right! We teach our children to be careful on the street so that they do not get run over by a vehicle. At the same spirit, shouldnt we also teach our children about drugs and drug abuse? Shouldnt the parents have a moral responsibility to assure that their children do not get run over by drug abuse in their lives? Example All parents are critical influencers of children. However, parents of children aged eight to twelve are especially influential. The attitudes and attendant behavior of the children in this age group can be easily be reinforced against drugs. Parents who wait to guide their children away from drugs until older ages stand a risk factor. Teenagers are more readily influenced by peers or may have started using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, thus making the parents ability to influence the children positively more difficult.

Parental example is a determinant of adolescent drug use. Children whose parents abuse alcohol or other drugs face heightened risks of developing substance-abuse problems themselves. Family Bond Family bonding is the bedrock of the relationship between parents and children. Bonding can be strengthened through skills training on parent supportiveness of children, parent-child communication, and parental involvement. . These skills can be enhanced with training on rulesetting; techniques for monitoring activities; praise for appropriate behaviour; and moderate, consistent discipline that enforces defined family rules. Parental monitoring and supervision are critical for drug abuse prevention. The government Agencies with the help of the voluntary organisations should introduce family-based prevention programs which would enhance family bonding and relationships and include enforcing family policies on drug abuse; and training in drug education and information. A comprehensive drug education and information for parents will reinforce what children are learning about the harmful effects of drugs and opens opportunities for family discussions about the abuse of legal and illegal substances. Smart talk One consistent finding is that the more often the family eats dinner together during the week, the less likely the children will use drugs. Parents who insist on family mealtime tend to have more orderly lives, take an active interest in their children's well-being, and are more influential. Mealtime is often the only time parents and kids actually talk about their lives in a calm manner. How often does your family eat together? Think about the changes that would be necessary to increase the frequency of family mealtime. Chances are those changes need to be made anyway. If your family is too busy to eat together, too many things are being given priority over family unity. How to Say It Be the kind of parent that kids will feel free to talk to about any exposure they might have to drugs. Many children know that drugs are bad -- so bad that they might be afraid to mention any exposure they have had to their parents. Teach appropriate ways that kids can say no to peer pressure. A child may believe that drug use is wrong but still be intimidated by peers. Rehearse assertive skills so your child has practice and more confidence in her ability to say no. Rule of Thumb: Teaching about drugs and alcohol and how to resist peer pressure without being clear about do's and don'ts (tools but no rules) is evading your responsibility to make clear what is right and wrong. Stating do's and don'ts without teaching about drugs and how to resist them (rules but no tools) is like sending your child into a danger zone unprepared